The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-08
The HERO OF ORLEANS
DELIGHTFULLY."- REMEMBERED
BY TIE JACKSON CLUB
A Number Of Prominent Men Speak
in Eul0glstic Measures Of
Old Hickory.

I
from arches overhead. The stage Dor,
large size pictures Of the hero of New
Orleans, Thurman. Nlden and Presi
dent Cleveland. Four tables extended
lengthwise of the room and cover
were turned for $50. The arrange
ments, under the direction Of the club
commuters, were commendable. l
was after 8 O'Clock before the members
and their guests were seated at tbs
tables ready to inaugurate the sub
stantial features OF the banquet.
The Hon I. E. Powell, of Delaware
grsced ths position of postmaster, aud
his clever presentation OF the several
speakers OF the evening was among
the most enjoyable features. The
gentlemen who had been selected to
respond during the evening occu 0ied
seats in clore proximity to the toast
master, and delivered their addresses
from platform which had been pre-
pared in front of the STAGE and at q
pleasing elevation. The Hon, ]. A.
Mckenzie, OF Kentucky, who ives
down for the first address OF the even
ing on Democracy, telegraphed thst
he had sheen detained by illness at
Cincinnati. Judge Allen @. Thur
man, who was the living hero of the
evening, was received with much
demonstration, and smoke TO "The
Uoion-the Common Heritage of the
People" AS soon ss the audience
had bscome sufficiently quiet
HE EeP5KE Az FOLLOWS:
Mr.. PRESIDENT We have assembled
tonight not to make platform for the
Democratic party of the United States /;
not to set at work any party ma
chinery for the political advancement
OF any person whomsoever; not to sit
in judgment upon or to ostracise true
men OF our party, because in some
particulars they may differ from US in
regard to men and measures, but We
are here assembled to do what We can
to reinvigorate the fundamental prin-
ciples Of our party, to bring about, rs
far as poss BILE, unity OF sentiment and
action; to renew our devotion to the
union OF the States, and to gather in.
spirstion from the example and
teachings of the great men
whose valor aud virtues we this
night celebrate, and what better
homage can we pay to him, who
fought, when a child, to achieve our
Independence; who fought, when q
man, to maintain and preserve it, and
who, when at the head of the govern
ment, and at dangerous crisis Of our
ouetry's history, uttered the ever
memorable sentiment: "The Union
it must and shall be maintained; )"
then to declare, as we do, in the
tossts just read, that the Union is the
common heritage Of patriots. Yes,
Mr., President, it is SO, and it ought to
be SO. Men may have been misguided
and gone wrong in the past, but,
whatever may bs a mans history, if
he is today, and means to be in the fu-
fure, q true, devoted friend of the
Union, that Union ia a part of
his heritage. 1t cannot be necessary
to spsak to an audience like this of
the advantages, nay, the necessity, of
the Union, but it may be proper to
say something of the means by which
it can be preserved. For, although
the Union may be, and / think is,
stronger today than it tver was beflre,
yet it would be mistake to suppose
that 1t will never, in the course of
time, encounter dangers that will re-
quire the utmost wisdom aud patriot
ism to meet and countsract. We have
now population of about 60,000000
people. II the Union lasts another
hundred years, our popul alton, at the
rate of increase that has hitherto pre-
vailed, will be nearly or quite 500,-
100000 people, 20O0O0,000 more
than now inhabit the whole conti-
nent Of Europe. So enormous
3 population, intelligent, active, in
educated, has never been
seen under the rule of one govern
ment on the face of the globe. But il
such shall be our condition one hun
dred years hencs what will it be when
two or three or more centuries shall
have rolled away? Manifestly to hold
such vast population, with prodig-
nous diversity OF interests and oCcu-
feeling and opinions, firmly
united under ons flag, will require
degree Of wisdom, knowledge and
patriotism that has never yet been
displayed in the government of man.
Kind. Some persons suppose that the |
Union can be preserved only by the |
of all substsn-
,ial power in the hands OF |
he Federal. Government, thus
n effect practically destroy
ng the long cherished home rule of |
,ur State governments which has been
productive Of 30 many benefits and of |
10 much content. For myself, am OF |
he opinion entertained by the fathers
If the Democracy, that such cons)li-
iation, instead of being preservative
would be certainly destructive of the
Union, While fully agree with
hose who assert that the general gov
,rnment should be cheerfully eus-
aimed in the exercise Of all the pow
RS conferred upon 1t by the constitu-
ion, al the came time / think that no
eature in our complex system Of
Is more deserving OF
,reservation, more necessary for the
ecurity OF liberty and the promotion Of
he best interests and happiness Of
he people than the home rule Of
,ur Sac governments, and because
his home rule is the cherished doc
rine Of the Democratic party. l think |
hat the preservation Of the party is
llmost synonym for the preservation
Il liberty and the Union. / think that
he Democratic party is the natural
,arty Of free institutions, and that it
will be indestrnctible 30 long as free
lom exists in America. II ] am cor
ect, then to say that we are d smo-
rats is to say that We are union men
md unswerving friends OF liberty aod
lome rule. There is no time tonight
o discuss so grand theme, the most
Interesting that could be presented TO
he mind OF an American citizsn. All
hat l can do in concluding my brief
ernarks is to copjure you 10 cherish
Ieep and unfaltering love Of your free
to inonlcate this love in
he minds cf your children, and never,
Inder any circumstances, however ap-
FALLING, to despair Of the Republic.
THE HON. PRANK LAwLER